Old and new

Spring time in Paris

This really is a beautiful city

The thinker by Rodin

A change in atmosphere...

tomorrow I will be off and running!

Petra Continued

The most amazing site and the one we may recognize is the monastery...

While we were admiring the monastery we noticed a young man perched on the top of the building and he was jumping from one part to the next, it was enough to make your heart stop.

This is the view looking back on the monastery from another little rock climb. If I turn around they claim that you can see all the way to Syria.

Petra...

I am not sure I have the words yet to describe the beauty that is Petra. The day was perhaps one of the most perfect days ever. The weather was not to hot, the site is simply amazing! 

You walk into Petra via a sandy gravelly trail with horses and carriages kicking up dust on one side. You walk down into these immense rocks.

Once you wander through the rock you come out at the what I believe is called the Treasury.

The size of these facades is massive, it is a struggle to believe that they were carved out of the stone by people.

In Arabic the word for camel is Jamal... I opted not to ride  one. 

Last day in Aqaba

Today was a great morning the teachers who came to the workshop were engaged and learning a ton. The work here is exhausting, and it is so great to be able to support these teachers of English in the public schools of Jordan to support there students better. The reality is, and most of them believe this, is that learning English is power for students, it will allow their students to dream big and open doors to jobs and university that they may not access otherwise. I heard a lot of the same excuses for low student performance here as I do at home. The other issue of course is learning to read and write in Arabic as well. 

evening in Aqaba

Maysoon is one of our lead teachers here in Jordan... she is wonderful! We are standing in front of the mosque in Aqaba.

After work, we play

Today was an amazing day, after we finished training we went for a swim in the Red Sea, we were at the place where Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel meet. The weather is gorgeous and the water warm.

The sun setting over Egypt...

Aqaba-Day one

After a close call at the airport, meaning we almost missed our flight, we made it to Aqaba. We are working at the Queen Noor Teacher Academy. The teachers here have had many writing sessions already, so they are a bit ahead in the work... this was a very interesting day.

I was able to share some of our student work with the teachers, this is one of my favorite photos.

And of course the boys, always an interesting story. I finally told this particular group of teachers that if they didn't start learning how to teach writing, the girls would be smarter then the boys and they wouldn't like that. Here in Jordan, the Male teachers teach boys and Female teachers teach girls... there are a few exceptions but not often. The result is that for men teaching is not considered a very important job, and they act like it...

Ajloun castle...

We stopped at an amazing crusader castle overlooking the valleys. It was magical to wander the castle and imagine what it would have been like to be there. They used the castle to pass along messages... via pigeon or fire all the way to Cairo.

Palestine off in the distance.

And of course always surrounded by children....

It happened to be a girls day out at the castle... all the girls schools were out in full force.

Day two: Jerash and Ajloun

Today we spent the day about 45 minutes outside of Amman at the teachers club in Jerash.  This was their first day in Writer's Workshop, it was really fun! Teachers began their own writing, and started the process of learning how to teach writing in English. The teachers we are working with are all teachers of English and of course it is a second language for most if not all.  Teaching writing of course is difficult under the best of circumstances.

First day with teachers...

We spent yesterday working with lead teachers and supervisors who have been working with the Writer's workshop for three years now. We were at the Queen Rania Teacher Academy which is an old palace that has been donated to the cause, they do mostly workshops and conferences. The grant we are are working with is administered through the academy.

Let's talk about the men around here..... they have an ability to suck the life out of me. Some of it is cultural although because I am an American and kind of cute, they tolerate my saying things to them that they would not accept from others. This is what I affectionately called the "naughty" table. Notice Jumana one of our lead female teachers.

Dead Sea...

My day began with a trip to the Dead Sea which was about 45 minutes out side of Amman, we rode a small mini bus through the country side. The Dead Sea is the lowest place on Earth approximately 1388 feet below sea level.

The Dead Sea with West Bank in the distance. The water has so much salt in it that because of the evaporation the air is hazy. 

They estimate that the salinity is 27% the second highest in the world which means that you float, it is almost impossible to swim with your feet under the water. It was an amazing and crazy feeling.

The real treat is the mud! It has curative properties, you cover yourself in it and wait for it to dry and then take a swim in the super salt water! So fun!

Good morning from Amman

Marahaba! From Amman, Jordan... After a long flight we arrived late last night. This morning I was awoken to the sound of the call to prayer echoing through the city and the sunrise. The photos are taken from my hotel room.  Today we head to the Dead Sea!

off again!

"Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don't be sorry."

Jack Kerouac

So I am off again! Headed to Jordan, I am excited and nervous! My first adventure into the Middle East... Stay tuned...